Virulence factors of medically important fungi

Abstract

Human fungal pathogens have become an increasingly important medical problem with the explosion in the number of immunocompromised patients as a result of cancer, steroid therapy, chemotherapy, and AIDS. Additionally, the globalization of travel and expansion of humankind into previously undisturbed habitats have led to the reemergence of old fungi and new exposure to previously undescribed fungi. Until recently, relatively little was known about virulence factors for the medically important fungi. With the advent of molecular genetics, rapid progress has now been made in understanding the basis of pathogenicity for organisms such as Aspergillus species and Cryptococcus neoformans. The twin technologies of genetic transformation and "knockout" deletion construction allowed for genetic tests of virulence factors in these organisms. Such knowledge will prove invaluable for the rational design of antifungal therapies. Putative virulence factors and attributes are reviewed for Aspergillus species, C. neoformans, the dimorphic fungal pathogens, and others, with a focus upon a molecular genetic approach. Candida species are excluded from coverage, having been the subject of numerous recent reviews. This growing body of knowledge about fungal pathogens and their virulence factors will significantly aid efforts to treat the serious diseases they cause.

Morphological, Biochemical and Molecular Approaches for Comparing Typical and Atypical Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Strains

“…These include an estrogen-binding protein, the cell wall a-1,3 glucan and b-glucans and a glycoprotein of 43 kDa (GP43) (Hogan et al 1996).…”

Dimorphism in <i>Histoplasma capsulatum</i> and <i>Blastomyces dermatitidis</i>

“…While several attributes of fungi have been described that presumably contribute to infection and pathogenicity [51], thus far no convincing evidence has been presented for the identification of a virulence factor for H. capsulatum .…”

Systems biology of infectious diseases: a focus on fungal infections

“…Fungi are not merely passive participants in the infectious process; a hypothetical set of virulence factors has been attributed to them (Cutler 1991;Hogan et al 1996;Calderone and Fonzi 2001). Additionally, antigenic variability, phenotypic switching and dimorphic transition profound affect the interaction between fungi and the environment (Mitchell 1998;Woods 2002;Soll 2002).…”